If your car caught fire, your auto insurance will cover the damage only if you have comprehensive coverage. Liability-only and collision-only policies do not cover fire damage to your own vehicle. Comprehensive is the portion of auto insurance that covers fire, theft, hail, flooding, and other non-collision events.
Comprehensive Coverage: What It Is and What It Covers
Comprehensive coverage is optional in every U.S. state. Lenders typically require it when a car is financed or leased, but if you own your car outright you may have dropped it to save on premium. If your policy does not include comprehensive, a car fire results in a total loss with no insurance payout for the vehicle. Comprehensive covers fire damage from engine fires, electrical fires, arson, wildfire, and fire resulting from collisions with animals — though a fire caused by a collision with another vehicle is typically covered under collision coverage rather than comprehensive.
What Types of Car Fires Are Covered
Comprehensive covers most common vehicle fire scenarios: engine fires from fuel or electrical system failures, fires caused by arson, fires resulting from wildfire or environmental events, and fire damage from natural disasters. A vehicle fire caused by a manufacturer defect may fall under both a comprehensive claim and a product liability claim against the manufacturer — both can be pursued simultaneously. Fire damage caused by your own intentional act is excluded and may result in fraud charges.
The Claims Process After a Car Fire
After a car fire, document the scene with photographs before the vehicle is moved if it is safe to do so. Contact your insurer as soon as possible to open a claim. Do not authorize repairs before the insurer has inspected the vehicle — doing so can complicate or void the claim. Your insurer will assign an adjuster who will inspect the damage and determine whether the vehicle is repairable or a total loss. If the vehicle is declared a total loss, you will receive a settlement based on the car’s actual cash value (ACV) before the fire, minus your deductible.
Deductibles and Rental Reimbursement
Your comprehensive deductible — typically $250 to $1,000 — applies to the claim. If the car is a total loss worth $8,000 and your deductible is $500, the insurer pays $7,500. Rental car reimbursement coverage (if you have it on your policy) pays for a rental vehicle while your car is being repaired or while you arrange a replacement after a total loss. If you do not have rental reimbursement coverage, you pay for the rental out of pocket.
For the broader question of what types of fire damage auto insurance covers — including wildfire and arson scenarios — see our guide on whether car insurance covers fire damage. If a structure or personal belongings were also affected, the insurance claims guide covers the homeowner and renter claim process in detail; renters should also see our breakdown of renters insurance fire coverage for what a standard HO-4 policy covers after a fire.